Electronic switch



Oct. 27, 1953 RACK 2,657,318

ELECTRONIC SWITCH Filed March 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. F l6. 2

/6 /5 [5 6 W g, [I 4 2 CONTROL CONTROL x VOL 7:465 VOLTAGE /0 7 SOURCE SOURCE (PR/5R ART) FIG. 3

PULSE DISTRIBUTOR, f lob r m CURRENT e .y. v vu AMPLIFIER RING OSCILLATOR l9 T wvavroe A. J. RA CA A TTORNEY A. J. RACK 2,657,318 ELECTRONIC SWITCH 2 Shbets-Sheet 2 Oct; 27, 1953 Filed March 22," 1952 i xxx W? lNVENTOR 14. J RACK ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 27, 1953 Aliiis J Rack;

gton, J assignor to 13611 Telephone 'Labtig'atofies, Incorporated, New York, N"; Y.,' a corporation of New York Apiifimiiin'niaicfi 22, 195 2, Seiial Nd. 277,939 6* claims: (01; 'a'iiw ss) I. This invention; re ates to the rapid pransrefqf electric energy from an input circuit to" a load circuit. I j r v v Apparatus fdf'e'ifectiiig' such ahnfgy trans fer under coiitr'ol'of" an auxiliary signal has dame tobkiiown as ahelzitrome switch or g'at'e'circuit. compact and agged pparatus of, this character are dealt; Within Lewis Patent 2535303 and in MeachamPatrit2576;026; Briefly, such a gate circuit 'cs'r'fipfises a -netw'drk having an input series arm, an output s'ei is a'rm, a'shiint control arm aiiaj asymmetrically conducting device (5131ineciteiij' each arm arid forming' the major fia'r't' ofth'is' 'fidaric'el Like electrodes of tfically' conducti "g devices areconnectedto et Uii'de'fo'ne condition of thc'ontrol ifoItTgafifnlifl to thshiii'it arii'i its impedance is highwhile the impedances of both ser'iesarms aielow Under this condition, a'low resistance 'patliis e stablishedbetween the ener'gy source connected to the input series arm and'aload connected to the input seriesarm and a load connected "t'dthe'out out series arm and the gate is closed. Under the other conditionoficontrol voltage applied to"tlie lshjlint arm; the shuntirfi' pedance is lovfwhx kgoth' -senesumpeuances are high. The sour 'is' thenvirtuallydisconnected from the magnum-gate is open. e 7 M It is convenien toe ployfanumberf of such T-networks tog'ethei" *apparatus"for-multiplex ing signals on a time division basis in a common load. The channelsftoibe multiplexed a'i e connectedind'iiiiduallytofthe series arm of the seveial 'ga'te circuits and control pulses" a'rea'p'p1ied w the shunt armsifiranid succession. It has been found, however, that atjandgabove' a limitihgfieq'ueiiizjofthe'forder' of 100 kilocycle's "per second or so 'foi the" gating pulse reb'etition rate, serious crosstalk sometimes exists between ad; jacent chann'els'fl an traced to delay" ir'f'th completion of t e-range; tion of I the output diofdes of theseVeral' T-iiet- W'orksi hereinaftefftermedsluggishnessf H In the pre'sef sip cification and appended claims, the term asymihetrically conductinfgfde vice re fers to any of"; the well known' devices" wl'iich resent a jr l'at 613/ 10W"- mpeqanc j q apf plied vintages of onff polarity I and "a" relatively high impedancto iioltagesfof theopposite po'lafityso that they brinitsubstantial conduction in but" one direction thefthroug'hl' Examples" of such devices are silicon and griiianiiiiiil ci'i'stfalf rectifirsof aiaasz As'ifiiswell that een dewc''s hail'in n ohmc f 'eq'ane' characteg-i is tics'fthefuiill not be dsci'ibed'in detail herein.

5 this" crosstalk has been" anat ema-w ile, wliii t e: gating pulse is remaven,- a'low'rfs'ils ce 'pajthis'"established from the anode" of the'io tldiode to its" cathode by way of which any chaige whichm'ay have aacumulated the outputjdiode while" the gatin pins-e aiirilied'dsiranidly dissipated, When oiks is provided'with V I I diod thefmay all be connectef to a"comm onf1oad and operated in rapid on ithout'danger of mutualinterference will h fullly 'app ehended, from cription of preferred shunt arm. Each of these arms containsafi asi iiim'etfically o ductiiigidvice'suchas a germahmm point'cbn tifier. su'chdevis win v i V ijls of thesedio'cles l, 2,1

positive terminal of a potential source such as a battery 8, whose negative terminal is grounded. A source I of energy which is to be transferred is connected from a fixed potential point t such as ground to the cathode of the input series arm diode l, preferably by way of a resistor 9. A load to which the energy of the source 1 is to be transferred is connected from the fixed potential point 3 to the output terminal E2 of the switch, and so to the cathode of the output series arm diode 2. For best operation the impedance of the load is preferably intermediate between the low resistances of the series arm diodes i, 2 and their high resistances. More precisely, the resistors 5, 9, I0 are proportioned relatively to each other and to the magnitude of the battery 6 as taught in the Meacham patent above referred to. A control voltage source II is connected from the fixed potential point 8 to the cathode of the shunt arm diode 3.

Briefly, the operation of this electronic switch is as follows. Application of a positive voltage pulse from the control voltage source II to the cathode of the shunt arm diode 3 drives it into its high resistance condition. The junction point 4 of the T-network is then virtually isolated from ground and adopts a potential governed by the positive terminal of the battery 6. This in turn drives both of the series diodes I, 2, into their low resistance conditions. The signal source 1 is now connected by way of an impedance of negligible magnitude to the load ill. Upon removal of the positive control voltage pulse, the shunt diode 3 is drawn into its low resistance condition. The junction point 4 of the T-network is now effectively connected to ground at 8, and this in turn drives the series diodes l, 2 into their high resistance conditions. The source 1 is now virtually isolated from the load it and the switch is now open.

It has been determined in practice that there is an upper limit to the frequency with which successive control voltage pulses may be repeated without severe reduction in the positiveness of the operation of the switch of Fig. 1. When it is attempted to exceed this limit, the output series diode '2 behaves sluggishly. In particular, having been driven into its low resistance condition by the application of a positive control pulse, it does not instantaneously return to its high resistance condition on removal of the control pulse of the source ll. Rather, it relaxes gradually as though a substantial electric charge were stored in it, and a current flows in the load In due to this relaxation. When control voltage pulses are applied with sufiicient rapidity the output diode 2 remains virtually continuously in its low resistance condition, in which event the required gating operation of the circuit is not performed.

It has been discovered that by the addition as shown in Fig. 2, of a fourth diode l3 connected between ground at 8 and the output terminal 12 of the T-network, and poled as shown i. e., like electrodes of this fourth diode l3 and of the output series diode 2 being connected together, the aforesaid sluggishness of operation is greatly reduced.

In addition, the output terminal I2 is preferably connected by way of a resistor M to the negative terminal of a source I whose positive terminal is grounded. The potential sources 6 and [5 may of course be merged into a single one of which an intermediate potential point is grounded. The magnitudes of the resistors 5, 9,

d l0, l4 and of the positive source 6 and the negative source I5 are selected to hold the output terminal, in the absence of signals and control pulses, at a slightly negative potential.

Without necessary subscription to any particular theory, it is believed that the operation of the improved circuit is now as follows. When the control pulse is applied to the shunt diode 3 by actuation of the control voltage source I I, the junction point 4 of the T-network rises rapidly toward the potential of the positive terminal of the battery 6 to close the gate between the source 9 and the load It as described above. The additional diode I3 is now in its high resistance condition and has no efiect. Positive charges are believed now to be stored in the output series diode 2 while it is held in its low resistance condition. As soon, however, as the control voltage pulse of the source l i is removed, the output terminal [2 of the T-network falls to the potential of the negative terminal of the battery [5 and the fourth diode l3 enters its low resistance condition. Any charges which may be stored in the output diode 2 are now much more rapidly discharged by way of the path comprising the shunt diode 3 and the fourth diode 13 in series than would have been possible by way of the much higher impedance of the load [0. Thus the addition of the fourth diode is makes for an increase in the frequency of satisfactory operation of about five fold.

The addition of the fourth diode l3, the resistor M and battery i5 require a modification in the mathematical relation which is set forth in the Meacham patent as determining the limits of best operation. The modified relation which holds between the elements of Fig. 2 is where e is the peak magnitude of the voltage of the source 1,

E1 is the voltage of positive source 6,

E2 is the voltage of negative source l5,

R1 is the magnitude of input resistor 9,

R2 is the magnitude of output resistor I0,

R3 is the magnitude of resistor 5, and

R4 is the magnitude of resistor i 4.

The polarity of the elements of Fig. 2 is selected for operation with positive control pulses. For negative control pulses the polarities of all diodes and those of the potential sources 6 and 45 need only to be reversed.

Fig. 3 shows a group of electronic switches which together feed a common current amplifier l9 by way of individual resistors l0 which now serve as buffers rather than loads. Thus each switch of the group comprises the same basic T-network diode switch as that of Fig. 2, including the auxiliary discharging diode I3 of the present invention, with the exception of the fact that the load on each switch comprises its buffer resistor it and the common amplifier l9. If the auxiliary discharging diode [3 were omitted, the discharge path for the output diode 2 of each switch would be by way of its buffer resistor It and, for a reasonable discharge speed, this would require that the magnitudes of the buffer resistors iG not be great. However, now that the auxiliary discharge diode I3 has been provided, establishing a low resistance discharge path for each output diode 2, the buffer resistors same a [it met b on iderably rea erv ma n ude or example, tenthousand' ohms, each. These large bufier resistors. serve additionally to isolate each switch from the others. Viewed in this light,

the auxiliary diode I3 may be. regarded as, a dc co pling l m nt n he combined efiects f the low resistance discharge paths whichthey provide and the high resistance bufier resistors i'fl rBSllltSin a reductionof crosstalk as between adjacent channels of the order of40*-50decibel s.

Control voltage pulses may be. applied in rapid succession to the several switches. They may be derived from individual pulse generators H, tripped by or synchronized with the outputs of the several stages of a. ring oscillator 20 or they may be derived directly from such a sequential pulse source in well-known fashion. By virtueof the great reduction of crosstalk provided as described above, the control voltage pulses may be applied to the individual switches ofthe group in very rapid succession, for example at a pulse repetition rate of one megacycle per sec- 0nd or more which allows a generous margin for all known time division multiplex systems.

The current input to the amplifier :9 now consists at any instantof the current output from one electronic switch of the group and never from two ormore.

Some nine or ten of the. switches of Fig. 2 may be connected together to feed a common current amplifier as shown in Fig. 3. However, if it were attempted greatly to increase this number and connect one hundred or so switches to the common current amplifier of Fig. 3, then, for the operation of each switch, the amplifier load would be shunted by ninety-nine bufier resistors in in parallel. Such an arrangement would place excessive requirements on the commo current amplifier which it might be difiicult to meet. Accordingly, when it is desired to multiplex channels in such large numbers, it is preferred to apply to the common amplifier a comparatively small number of individual switch groups, each of which may in turn comprise a comparatively small number of individual switches. Such an arrangement of switch groups is shown in Fig. 4 where, by way of example, nine groups of eight switches each are applied together to the common current amplifier 3!, there being a single buffer resistor 32 and a single fourth diode 33 for all the switches of one group. Becaus all the output terminals of the switches of each group are connected together, a single discharging diode 33 may serve for all of them, operating to discharge the diodes 2 of the output series arms of each of the switches of one group in turn as described above in connection with Fig. 3.

For best operation, the switches of the first row, one in each vertical group, should be actuated in immediate succession. To this end the individual pulse generators are to be understood as being connected to adjacent output points of the ring oscillator 30, those of the switches of each vertical group being thus connected to non-adjacent terminals of the ring oscillator, for example, the first, the ninth, the seventeenth, etc. When the cycle has been completed with respect to the switches of the first row, it may start for the switches of the second row, run to completion, start for the switches of th third row and so on. At the same time, and by virtue of the connection only of the several switch groups individually to the current amplifier 3|, the shunting effect on any one of the buffer resistors by all the others is not serious.

Whatis claimedis'.

1. An electronic switch which comprises" a T- network having an input. series, arm. having an input terminal; an output series. arm having an output terminal, a shunt control arm, a point common to said arms, and a fixed potential point, an asymmetrically conducting device connected in each of said arms, electrodes of said devices which are of a kind being connected to said com.- mon point, and a fourth asymmetrically conducting device interconnecting said output terminal with said fixed potential point, electrodes oi the output series arm device and of the fourth device which are of th other kind being connected-to. gether, each of said: devices having a high impedance condition and a low impedance condi--- tion, and means for causing said fourth device to adopt its. high impedance condition when said output series arm device adoptsits low impedance condition, and vice versa.

2. The combination of an electronic switch which comprises a, T-networkhaving an input series arm having an input terminal, an. output series arm having. an output. terminal, a, shunt control arm, a point common to said arms,.and a fixed potential p,oint; arr asymmetrically cone ducting device connected; in each of said arms, electrodes of said devices which areofi akindfbeing connected to said common point, and'afourth asymmetrically conducting device interconnecting said output terminal with said fixed potential point, electrodes of the output series arm device and of the fourth device which are of the other kind being connected together, with a source of steady potential having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, an intermediate point of said source being connected to said fixed potential point, a first resistor interconnecting the common point of said T-network with the positive terminal of said source, and a second resistor of magnitude substantially in excess of that of the first resistor interconnecting the output terminal of the T-network with the negative terminal of said source.

3. The combination of an electronic switch which comprises a T-network having an input series arm having an input terminal, an output series arm having an output terminal, a shunt control arm, a point common to said arms, and a fixed potential point, an asymmetrically conducting device connected in each of said arms, electrodes of said devices which are of a kind being connected to said common point, and a fourth asymmetrically conducting device interconnecting said output terminal with said fixed potential point, electrodes of the output series arm device and of the fourth devic which are of the other kind being connected together, with a source of signals to be translated and a first resistor connected in series between said fixed potential point and said input terminal, a second resistor connected between said fixed potential point and said output terminal, a source of steady potential having a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a terminal of intermediate potential, said intermediate potential terminal being connected to said fixed potential point, a third resistor interconnecting the common point of said T-network with the positive terminal of said source, and a fourth resistor interconnecting said output terminal with the negative terminal of said source.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the magnitudes of said resistors, the potentials of 7 said sources and the voltage of said signal source are proportioned in accordance with the relation IQ RAM-P 9] 1 2 4- zRz a] Rfi RTR'fiRQ e R;( R2+Ri R2Ri where 5. Apparatus which comprises a plurality of electronic switches, each of which comprises a T-network having an input series arm, an output .series arm having an output terminal, a shunt control arm, a point common to said arms, and a fixed potential point, an asymmetrically conduct- ;ing device connected in each of said arms, elec- -=trodes of said devices which are of a kind being connected to said common point, and a fourth :asymmetrically conducting device interconnect- .ing said output terminal with said fixed potential point, electrodes of the output series arm de- -.vice and of the fourth device which are of the other kind being connected together, a common current amplifier having an input terminal, re sistors of substantial magnitude individualli connecting the output terminal of the several T- networks with the input terminal of said amplifier.

6. Apparatus which comprises a plurality of electronic switches each of which comprises a T- network having an input arm, and output series arm having an output terminal, a shunt control arm, a point common to said arms, and a fixed potential point, an asymmetrically conducting device connected in each of said arms, electrodes of said devices which are of a kind bein connected to said common point, a common current amplifier having an input terminal, a resistor, the output of all of said switches being connected together and by way of said resistor to the input terminal of said amplifier, and an auxiliary asymmetrically conducting device interconnecting said output terminals with said fixed potential point, electrodes of the output series arm devices and of said auxiliary device which are of the other kind being connected together.

ALO'IS J. RACK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

